I have recently completed my BE in energy engineering, my final year project is design and development of wind turbine 500 watts so my area of speciality is wind energy so kindly anyone guides me how…Continue

If you're an engineering job seeker, how has the job market changed in the past six months? More jobs? More interviews/offers? If you're currently employed, has your company increased the number of…Continue

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Hi Maziar, Please tell us what you have found to be tough in the job market today. Are you fully employed and satisfied where you are, or are you looking for a new job? If you recently acquired a new job, what strategies or techniques did you use to find the job and sell yourself to your employer? Your answers and ideas can help many others who tune into this channel. We all need to pull together to make this job market get better. Your comments are very much appreciated. Also, to everyone else reading this: I invite you to please give us your thoughts and ideas on your job or future career plans. For example, are you thinking about the "new" possibilities of Wind Power or Solar Energy? Maybe you should...
Thanks--John R.

Im glad that I finally found a forum where I can talk freely and get some sound advice from other practicing engineers. I've been in the engineering profession for about 3 years now. I work as an RF Engineer in Canada, within the space industry. My background is in Electrical Engineering with a focus on communication networks, microelectronics, control systems, real-time distributed system, etc. I would very much like to open an engineering design/services company one day, but for that to happen I know I'd need to get out of space and move into bigger industries like handheld devices, semiconductors, medical device, etc. I would like to ask some of the senior peers in this forum, to tell me about the experiences that I should be focussing on getting to be able to set up an engineering firm. Also, I'll be picking up my P.Eng designation in the next year. Would it be a good idea to move into consulting at that point in time?

Thank you both for your advice... I have keept, during this last years, sort of a diary of what I have been working on a daily basis, as well as the things I have learned and the things I need to work more on...

Because of the nature of the work I am doing, I am doing an MBA and a MEM right now, and like Joshua said, I have been sending resumes as well as attending trainnings and seminars on my own (since in my office is quite difficult to get trainnings approved).

I did my internship with the DoD, and I am trying to go back to DC area... but a change like that will depend on the economy... trying my best...

Most definitely, will work out John's excercise... and keep it on my ideas/dreams book :)

John,
Great advice! I also am a recent graduate (ME) but am continuing onto earn my Masters degree (also ME). My current job is an internship. I've been here for 2.5 years or so, met some great people, learn tons about the work place and and learned the most about what it takes to become an engineer.

Sometimes, sure you hate what you're doing. But for me, I've kept my eyes focused on a single goal, earning a full time position. My manager, his manager and others in the company have taken notice and frequently ask me if I've been hired full time yet. If it weren't for the economy, I've been told that a job offer would already be on the table. Sure its frustrating but I keep on chugging along knowing that its out there. Its just a matter of time before I reach it.

To answer Jomaislu's comment, I sincerely agree with John's advice but would generalize it a bit to meet how I work the best. Pick a goal. If your goal is to get your dream job, by all means, write down where you'd like your career to end up. But sometimes its the simple things that can make your life easier. Set short term goals too. "I am going to take a training seminar at work to make my time in the transportation industry more effective." "I am going to send out 10 job applications this week." "I am going to impress my boss with my next assignment."Knowing that you can set goals and achieve them will not only boost your confidence, but it will also strengthen your drive and passion for what you set your mind to. That way when you boss comes to you and asks you do to something you don't really care much about, you can smile, say, "sure thing!" and get things done.

Jomaislu, First, I recommend that you write as complete a description as you can of the job that is your dream. Include all the technical and non-technical details; what, exactly, do you want to conceive, design, test, build, prototype, and so on: List where you want to live, what hours you want to work, what position you want to hold -- everything you can think of. Next, compare it to what you are doing today, and list the things you don't like about your job. Then determine what skills you have and decide if these skills also fit with your dream job. If you don't think you have a complete set of skills, you may have to return to school to get them. Maybe just a refresher. Also, never underestimate the power of interviewing someone in the business that you want to enter. Now look at what you learned on your present job and decide which skills you can use on the new job. These will be assets you can draw upon for your upcoming interviews. Finally, I would be surprised if your manuscript is less than 1000 words. By this time you should have a pretty good idea of what you want, and it will seem like you already have it. Attend seminars, shows, and job fairs where you can meet people, Join a professional organization and attend local chapter meetings to meet people. Make a list all the companies that may have the job you want, which also meet your other specs for location, and so forth. Then start the search. I am sure others reading this blog will have more suggestions, maybe even better. But I have interviewed hundreds of young engineers and have found the most important ingredient is passion, passion to do the job that you are able to define. Smile, and demonstrate your passion during the interview. What do you other readers have to say? --John Gyorki

Thank you all for opening this forum... I need HELP!!
Ok, I am recent graduate EE, although I have been working in the field for the past 10 years. Unfortunately for me, I am "stuck" in the wrong area of the business... I did my major in Electronics, Communications and Controls, and I am working on Transportation which is mostly power applications...

I am looking for a new job in the area I did my degree in... but in the mean time, as professional engineers... any advice on the best areas to tackle and learn about? I am not a power person... I do not like it... but I know I have to learn, at least while I am here... any guidance on how to start my career?

I would like to hear what you are doing to get a new job if you do not have one now. Or what are you doing to upgrade to another position with your present employer or with another company? My suggestion is be proactive (even if "proactive" is a worn-out word.) For example, I was waiting to get new tires on my car at a Ford dealership yesterday and watched the salesmen mill around a pretty empty showroom with nothing to do. They were just waiting for customers to "magically" appear. Not one of them came over to me to engage me in conversation! How stupid can you be? Why? Because my neighbor recently asked me how I liked my new car, and he was thinking of getting one like mine, but didn't take the time out of his busy schedule to visit a dealership. It was not a pressing problem, but I know if I got the information for him, he would ask me to set up an appointment for him with a salesman of my choice. Do salespeople think like that, or do they think at all? While I sat there, I imagined what I would do if I was a salesman. First, I would assemble a list of all the people who bought or leased a car in the past year. Then I would call them or send them a card to find out if they would like me to PERSONALLY set up a service appointment for them. I would not leave that entirely to the service department. I would send them brochures on the new cars as they were introduced, PERSONALLY signed. Who would they contact when they needed a new car? Me of course. And there is more. For another example, I created a job for myself once in my career. I went to K-Mart and purchased a product. I took it apart and discovered ways I could design and build a better one for the same or lower cost. Then I set up an interview appointment to see the VP of engineering at the company that made the product, even though there were no openings, I convinced him to meet with me, and he did. After I showed him what I could offer, he CREATED a new position for me called New Product Development Manager. I was hired on the spot and took over his design group. Be proactive and creative. So, what can you do? Let us know.